Distributed control intelligent lighting array

Abstract

An array of lights in which a coordinator collects sensed lighting transition times from each light in order to determine and select a median transition time. The individual light having the selected transition time assumes control of the lighting array, controlling and synchronizing the light transitions of the array, until the coordinator collects another group of transition times and appoints a new synchronization leader.

1 . A lighting array comprising:
 a plurality of light assemblies, each of said assemblies having a light source, and communication means for communicating the value of an operational parameter of said assembly to a coordinator;   said coordinator being configured to:
 receive said values; and 
 compare said values to determine a median value. 
   
     
     
         2 . The array of  claim 1  wherein said coordinator is further configured to cause each assembly of the array to conform said operational parameter to the value of said operational parameter at the assembly that communicated said median value. 
     
     
         3 . The array of  claim 1  wherein said coordinator is configured to communicate to said light assemblies to instruct them to synchronize said operational parameter to that of said assembly that communicated said median value and to receive synchronization data from said assembly that communicated said median value. 
     
     
         4 . The array of  claim 3  wherein said coordinator is one of said light assemblies. 
     
     
         5 . The array of  claim 4  wherein said operational parameter is a parameter selected from the group of parameters comprising: activation time, deactivation time, onset of dusk, onset of dawn. 
     
     
         6 . The array of  claim 3  further comprising means for communicating to an operator a deviation from said median value. 
     
     
         7 . The array of  claim 6  wherein said means for communicating to an operator comprises a recorded log of said deviation. 
     
     
         8 . The array of  claim 1  wherein said operational parameters are selected from the group of operational parameters comprising: battery charge levels, solar panel charge readings, solar panel voltage readings, collected solar power levels, battery temperature readings, light source temperature readings, and signal strength. 
     
     
         9 . The array of  claim 1  wherein said coordinator is configured to cause each assembly of the array to conform said operational parameter to the value of said operational parameter at the assembly that communicated said median value for at least a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         10 . The array of  claim 1  wherein said coordinator is configured to communicate to said light assemblies to instruct them to synchronize said operational parameter to that of said assembly that communicated said median value and to receive synchronization data from said assembly for at least a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         11 . A method of synchronizing a lighting array comprising the steps of:
 receiving a value for an operational parameter from each of a plurality of lighting assemblies;   comparing said values to determine a median value; and   appointing the lighting assembly which communicated the median value to synchronize the lighting array.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said value comprises an activation time, deactivation time, the time of onset of dusk or the time of onset of dawn. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of communicating to an operator a deviation from said median value. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said step of communicating to an operator comprises recording a log of said deviation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of appointing another lighting assembly to synchronize the lighting array after a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said steps are performed by a coordinating one of said lighting assemblies and said coordinating one is selected by comparing unique addresses associated with each of said assemblies. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said steps are performed by a coordinating one of said lighting assemblies, a sensor is associated with said coordinating one and for an initial period of time in the operation of the array, said coordinating one provides a synchronization signal to the assemblies of the array based on said sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The array of  claim 3  wherein each of said lighting assemblies is configured to synchronize to the output of a sensor associated with itself in the absence of a communication from the coordinator after a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said operational parameter is selected from the group comprising: battery charge levels, solar panel charge, solar panel voltage, solar panel power, temperature of a battery, temperature of a light source, signal strength. 
     
     
         20 . The array of  claim 3  wherein said assembly that communicated said median value acts as coordinator for the determination of a subsequent median value calculation according to  claim 1 .